Deloitte announces plans for growth in new offices

The new offices will be able to accommodate more than 1,000 staff when the firm moves in in 2021, making Belfast the largest UK office outside London.

Construction firm McAleer & Rushe is behind the £85 million development on Bedford Street, which is centred around the regeneration and refurbishment of the historic listed building formerly known as the Ewart Building.

It includes a modern new office building which will be linked to the refurbished and extended Ewart building, a prime city centre location which has been unoccupied for some time.

The project will deliver 213,000sqft of Grade A office space capable of accommodating more than 2,000 people.

The new Belfast office will accommodate all of Deloitte’s core business areas, including audit, tax and consulting and will also see a new state-of-the-art Deloitte Digital and Greenhouse space created in the Ewart building.

“After a long selection process we are delighted to be able to announce the choice of Bedford Square as our new home in Belfast,” said Jackie Henry, senior partner at Deloitte in Belfast.

“It is a symbol of Deloitte’s commitment to this city that we have chosen a development which will breathe life back into one of Belfast’s beautiful but neglected heritage buildings, contributing to the regeneration of the city centre while at the same time delivering an exciting and flexible modern work environment for our increasingly diverse and connected workforce.”

Based on current growth projections she said the firm expect to have 1,000 staff in Belfast by 2022, with more than 400 new roles supported by the Department for the Economy through Assured Skills and Higher Level Apprenticeships.

“Given that growth trajectory, we have also made sure we have the option to increase the space to accommodate up to 1,250,” she added.

Stephen Surphlis, property director at McAleer & Rushe said: “Securing Deloitte’s commitment is a significant milestone in the delivery of this strategic development which will bring further economic activity to the heart of the City and surrounding local businesses.

“We have already commenced works and upon completion the building will provide much needed grade A office accommodation for international and indigenous companies within Belfast’s prime office district.”